Heroism of Welsh pilot killed in Battle of Britain celebrated at former school

THE heroism of a Welsh pilot killed in action during the Battle of Britain will be celebrated at a reunion of former school pupils.

THE heroism of a Welsh pilot killed in action during the Battle of Britain will be celebrated at a reunion of former school pupils.

Preparations are under way today – Battle of Britain Day – to commemorate and honour the Llanelli fighter pilot Lewis Reginald Isaac who was killed during a surprise attack by enemy fighters.

September 15, 1940 is considered by historians to be the turning point in the Battle of Britain, recognising the heroism of what Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously referred to as “The Few”.

Next month, visitors from as far away as Texas and Scotland are heading to West Wales as former pupils of the Llanelli Boys Grammar School unveil a plaque in honour of Sergeant Isaac.

The old grammar school site is now part of Coleg Sir Gâr’s Graig campus.

Sgt Isaac was a former pupil of the school before serving as a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve serving in 64 Squadron.

The centenary reunion of old boys from his former school will commemorate how he was killed in action over the English Channel on August 5, 1940.

He was aged just 24 and one of 544 airmen who died in the battle.

The commemorative plaque will be unveiled by Clive Millman from the Battle of Britain Historical Society.

“The Battle of Britain Historical Society places memorial plaques in honour of the brave men who fought so successfully in the battle, at the schools where they were educated,” said Mr Millman.

“We, and future generations, will always have a huge debt of gratitude for Lewis Reginald Isaac and his brave colleagues.”

Organiser of the reunion gala dinner Professor Ken Board, also a former pupil, said: “To date, we’ve got around 75 members confirmed as attending but we want to make sure that everyone knows the event is on to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to join us.”

The son of James and Blodwen Isaac, the young pilot had taken off from Kenley aerodrome in the early morning as part of a flight of six Spitfires to patrol the Channel between Beachy Head and Dover.

But the squadron became engaged with the enemy in the Folkestone area.

The German aircraft had the advantage of the sun and height and during the course of the resulting dogfight Lewis was seen to crash into the sea off Folkestone and his body was never found.

After the remaining five pilots returned to Kenley it became clear from their combat debriefing that Sgt Isaac had turned to face the enemy fighters in an effort to try and cover other planes from his squadron that had suffered damage in the dogfight.

In June, Public Services students from Coleg Sir Gâr’s Graig campus commemorated Sgt Isaac when they laid a wreath in his honour.

College lecturer Warren Adams, who is a former flying officer with the Air Training Corps RAF Voluntary Reserve (Training) said: “We travelled up to the Black Mountain above Dan yr Ogof to Carreg Goch to lay the wreath on the memorial and crash site of an RAF Wellington bomber which crashed there in 1944.

“It was quite a moving experience, especially for the students, as Sgt Isaac was only 24 when he was killed in action in 1940.”

Sgt Isaac is also remembered at the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede.

Next month’s black-tie event is taking place on Friday, October 21 at the Graig campus, in what was the assembly hall of the old school.

Tickets for the event must be booked in advance and with more information available at llanelliboysgrammar.org

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